Walt Disney World has always evolved to meet the times, but not every change wins over its most loyal fans. As the company embarks on its most ambitious investment cycle yet, tensions are rising over what it chooses to preserve — and what it decides to leave behind.
Disney announced plans in 2024 to pour $60 billion into its parks and experiences over the next decade, although the figure has recently come under scrutiny with reports suggesting that may now be $30 billion. Regardless of the final amount, Walt Disney World is set to see sweeping changes across its 25,000-acre property, often favoring expansion into existing guest spaces rather than building on untouched land.
At Magic Kingdom, that approach is about to have major consequences for two of the park’s most historic attractions.
Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island on the Chopping Block
The 2024 D23 Expo unveiled a host of projects designed to reshape Walt Disney World, but none ignited as much controversy as the announcement tied to Frontierland. Disney revealed plans to replace the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island with a new Cars-themed expansion, marking one of the most dramatic landscape changes in the park’s history.
The backlash was swift. Longtime Disney guests and former Imagineers alike warned that removing the water features would strip Magic Kingdom of one of its most defining elements — a kinetic centerpiece that distinguished the castle park from other attractions. Fans quickly rallied under the #SaveMagicKingdom movement, hoping to pressure Disney into reconsidering.
“It is to allow our guests to enjoy the ‘out of the ordinary’ experience at Tokyo Disney Resort,” a representative said when discussing why immersive environments matter. While that comment referred to Tokyo, the sentiment resonates with those fighting to preserve Magic Kingdom’s tranquil river scenes.
Despite the protests, Disney appears poised to move forward. Reports now show construction fencing and machinery stationed near Floridian Way, behind Big Thunder Mountain and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Permits filed suggest the area will serve as a laydown yard and project office compound — signs that demolition and development are imminent.
A New Frontier for Disney’s Magic Kingdom
Although Disney has not yet issued a closure date for the Rivers of America, historical patterns suggest guests will receive a few months’ notice. If so, visitors may have through summer to enjoy the classic steamboat rides and river pathways before the transformation begins.
When the new expansion opens, it will offer two new Cars attractions, with the primary ride featuring Lightning McQueen, Mater, and other characters in an off-road rally adventure. Disney has emphasized that the experience will differ from Disney California Adventure Park’s wildly popular Cars Land (and, we can only assume/hope, the poorly received Cars rides at Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris).
Meanwhile, Pixar has hinted that Cars 4 could be in development — a move that would neatly align with the expansion’s debut, boosting interest and merchandising opportunities.
Yet for many Disney World fans, the change comes with a heavy cost. Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island have offered a rare sense of peace in a park built on excitement. Their loss marks more than the end of an attraction; it represents a shift in what Walt Disney World values as it builds toward the future.
Are you Team Cars Land or Team Rivers of America?
